Seal i-ob vacuum jabs



Feb. 3, 1931. (5. A. SYKES 1,790,957

SEAL FOR VACUUM JARS Original Filed Feb. 9, 1926 INV I TOR 071 Q M MRNEY Patented Feb. 3, 1931 V UNITED STATES GEORGE A. SYKES, OFWEEHAWKEN, NEW JERSEY SEAL FOB VACUUM JARS Continuation of applicationSerial No. 87,003, filed February 9, 1926. This application filed March13, 1929. Serial No. 346,743.

' My present invention relates to an improved seal for containers.intended to preserve food stuffs andother perishable substances, andmore especially for such as are kept under a vacuum.

This improved seal has been found eifective in maintaining a high degreeof vacuum where dry substances are preserved insheet metal containers,and I shall describe the seal as so employed although my claims are notall limited to this embodiment of the invention. a

My improved seal is illustrated in certain preferred forms in theaccompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a View of my seal in vertical section.

Fig. 2 is a similar view of a part of the same on an enlarged scale; and

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are sectional views of preferred forms of rubber ringsto be employed in my seal.

The upper part of a sheet metal container of circular form is shown at.10. This container has a circular opening centrally located at the topand surrounded by a turned in skirt 11 for aifording. a firm frictionalfit with the cover.

All around the top of this skirt there is a shallow concave seat 12 andsurrounding this seat is the top of the container 13, so disposed as toafford a blunt circular ridge 14 thatforms the external boundary of theseat.

The cover is preferably outwardly convex in the middle as shown at 15,and is sur,

rounded by a cylindrical edge 16 which is spun over to form an externaldownwardly extending circular ridge 17 so located and proportioned as tofit down approximately over the ridge 14.

In closing the container the seal is formed by placing, between theouter edge of the cover and the top of the container a band of softrubber 18, which lies principally over the seat 12 and hugs thecylindrical portion 16 of the cover. The band 18 may also be made ofpaper, or of various fiber compositions. V

In order to insure the rubber oro ther material being made to fill thespace under and behind the ridge 17 as completely as possible, whenpresure is applied, I prefer to use a band 18 that roughly approximatesa circular form in cross section, and three forms are shown in Figs. 3,4c and 5 which conform to this definition and all three of which aifordat least one external ridge intended to be compressed between theexternal ridge on the cover and the blunt outer edge of the seat 12.

In Fig. 3 is a roughly diamon d-shaped ring presenting an external angle19 all around the circle.

In Fig. 4 is shown a form of ring wherein the desired eiiect is producedby a circular cross section having oppositely disposed circular teats 20within and without.

Inasmuch as the external teat 20 is alone desirable to afiord anextension under the circular ridge 17 on the cover, the form shown inFig. 5 may be used instead of that shown in Fig. .4.

It will, of course, be understood that after production of a vacuumWithin the container and the compression of the cover into place asshown in Figs. 1 and 2, the band or ring will be squeezed out of itsoriginal manufactured shape and will more or less entirely fill thespace inside the ridge 17, as shown in Fig. 2.

It is to be further understood that my invention is not confined to theuse of a particular form of band or ring. In some cases I have found theordinary flat ring of thin rectangular cross section to be eflective.

This application is a continuation of my application Serial No. 87 ,003,filed February 9, 1926.

What I claim is:

1. A container having an opening surrounded by an inwardly extendingskirt, and a top With a shallow concave seat surrounding the opening andbounded on the side away from the opening by a blunt ridge, incombination with a cover having a portion tightly fitting said skirt andhaving an external down turned ridge adapted to come down substantiallydirectly over said blunt ridge on" the top of the container, and a ringof compressible material compressed against said concave seat under saidridge on the cover, and having a portion extending outwardly under thedownturned ridge on the cover.

2. A container having an opening sur- 5 rounded by an inwardly extendingskirt, and a top with a shallow concave seat surrounding the opening andbounded on the side awa from the opening by a blunt ridge, in comination with a cover having a portion m tightly fitting said skirt andhaving an external downturned ridge adapted to come down substantiallydirectly over said blunt ridge on the top of the container, and a rubberrin compressed against said concave seat um er said ridge on the cover,and having a portion extending outwardly under the downturned ridge onthe cover.

3. A seal as in claim 1 wherein the ring has a roughly circular shape incross section aflording an external ridge when compressed which extendsunder the downturned ridge in the cover.

4. A seal as in claim 2 wherein therubber ring has a roughly circularshape in cross section affording an external ridge when compressed whichextends under the down turned ridge in the cover.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

so GEORGE A. SYKES.

